Can Keyhole Cichlid and Royal Pleco (L190) Live Together?

Keyhole Cichlid is a peaceful species (2/10), while Royal Pleco (L190) is moderately assertive (5/10). This modest difference means Royal Pleco (L190) may occasionally assert dominance over Keyhole Cichlid.

Keyhole Cichlid and Royal Pleco (L190) both frequent the Bottom (Substrate) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Royal Pleco (L190) is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters.

To improve the chances of a peaceful coexistence in this community tank: Provide a significantly larger tank (at least 50% more volume than the minimum) to allow both Keyhole Cichlid and Royal Pleco (L190) to establish separate territories. Add plenty of line-of-sight breaks using driftwood, rocks, and dense planting to reduce territorial confrontations.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 22°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Keyhole Cichlid and Royal Pleco (L190) together, plan for an aquarium of at least 450 litres with a minimum length of 150 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Densely covered, Leaf Litter/Blackwater. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Royal Pleco (L190) is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Keyhole Cichlid's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Keyhole Cichlid prefers Low (Still Water) flow while Royal Pleco (L190) needs High (River/Stream) flow. Consider positioning filter outlets and using baffles to create zones of different current intensity within the same tank.

This pairing usually fails when the tank is treated like a standard mixed community and the caution flags are ignored. Keyhole Cichlid and Royal Pleco (L190) need extra room, more cover, and closer observation during the first few weeks so small aggression, feeding, or territory issues do not snowball into a long-term problem.